Debt collectors asked to go easy on ‘hard up’ students
Debt collectors hired on behalf of NUI Galway to recover unpaid fees should be sensitive when dealing with people who are financially under pressure, student leaders have warned.
It was confirmed this week that NUIG is continuing its policy of outsourcing debt collection to a private company, South Western, which is based in Cork.
Students Union Welfare Officer, Declan Higgins commended the university for embracing ‘payment plans’, which allow students to pay fees on a weekly or monthly basis, to spread the load, rather than in one lump sum. However, he said a “sensitive” approach must be taken by debt collectors who are pursuing hard-up students.
“There is a humanity in most cases here in NUIG and in most cases students are treated sensitively. In fairness to the university, they are very good in terms of setting up payment plans for students, which eases financial pressure. A lot of students are struggling with debt and their families are finding it hard so the payment plans are a good solution. It is better that the university gets some money, spread out over the year rather than losing the student and the fees. It makes economic sense and it is a sensitive and sensible approach,” said Mr Higgins.
In relation to reports the university is continuing to outsource its debt collection, he said he has had no reports of students being badgered by private debt companies.
In some instances, it is understood students do receive phone calls reminding them of their outstanding fees, however.
“We don’t have a policy as such towards debt collection but what we would say is that each case must be dealt with in a very, very sensitive way. We would ask that the university ensures that the debt collection agency deals with cases sensitively and in fairness, in relation to payment plans, that certainly is the case most of the time.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.